Review of Santa Fe, New Mexico


Carnival of fools
Star Rating - 3/15/2019
The only 2 things about Santa Fe that are nice is the scenery and the weather. But, those two things cannot bring about the total comfort and homeyness that makes a city a great place to live. Firstly, Sperling shows a fatal flaw about Sante Fe. A 50K average income with a close to 400K avg housing price? Hmmm, Denver home prices with 35% less avg income. California rent prices in a little town with ZERO private sector industry (Tourism does not count because those jobs have menial wages) and state gov't jobs. Umm, No. The other fatal flaw is that Santa Fe is always rated as one of the top 5 rudest cities in America. They have deadly drivers, a huge illegal (Yes liberals, illegal means illegal) population, extremely HIGH income inequality (something liberals always yammer on about but never do anything about) and a shrinking population and tourism. Even though Santa Fe is a failed little town with a looming deficit, it doesn't stop their pretentious residents from making it as an expensive of a city as any big city in N.Y. or California. It's like a fairytale land for these transplants, but it drives out or burdens the local population which are mostly hispanic. Again, great weather and scenery are the ONLY pluses about Santa Fe and I give a star to each for a total of two.
chris | Albuquerque, NM
Agree 1017   Disagree 1174  Thanks for Voting!   Report Abuse
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16 Replies


You talk about rudeness, then present yourself as case #1.
osnE gnilaeH | Phoenix, AZ | Report Abuse

You talk about rudeness, then present yourself as case #1.
osnE gnilaeH | Phoenix, AZ | Report Abuse

Chris, like most places that are tourist in nature, money flows in and helps in so many ways to improve the areas it finds, yes it causes issues ( lack of affordable housing being one, crime another ) but New Mexico as a whole has poverty, crime and a lack of educational advancement BUT many people that you seem to be a critic of have helped not only with money ( TAXES PAID ) but their experience and volunteering , bringing business to the area et cetera , you mention "it burdens the local population" this you most certainly have wrong
KEVIN | | Report Abuse

The above review is right on. SF is good place to visit for a few days but not a good place to live given its severe problems of economic inequality, rising ethnic tensions, and too many self-absorbed, asocial yuppies of all ages who live in the second homes theyve bought/built in the eastern hills. Of course all the realtors and chamber of commerce reviewers will tell you how wonderful it is. Coldish winters and high rate of property crimes, too. So do your own research on it and keep your eyes open if you visit there.
jay | Providence, RI | Report Abuse

Most of your comments are right on. Little medical care as well. This is not a place to live for the vast majority of Americans who are not rich, egocentric or pretentious. I would just add that it's not the poor, hard-working "illegals" that are the main problem; it's the bored, arrogant, trust-funded, and pseudo-bohemian minority, most of whom are from CA, TX or NY and dont live here year-round but who can afford large mansions in the eastern foothills of town. There are many better places to live or move to, even in today's USA!
jay | Providence, RI | Report Abuse

Stop comparing and complaining. If you don't like it there don't live there.
Jennifer | Roseville, CA | Report Abuse

I've been in both cities many years ago. Santa Fe was beautiful and felt spiritual. Albuquerque was hot as hell and hard-scrabble. Nature of a big city. here's a tip: grow up and stop whining about "liberals" and maybe someone will take you seriously.
john | Upper West Side, NY | Report Abuse

I've been in both cities many years ago. Santa Fe was beautiful and felt spiritual. Albuquerque was hot as hell and hard-scrabble. Nature of a big city. here's a tip: grow up and stop whining about "liberals" and maybe someone will take you seriously.
john | Upper West Side, NY | Report Abuse

Disagree with the above commentary about Santa Fe, NM
Michele | Scottsdale, AZ | Report Abuse

Chris is just plain wrong about his facts
Michele | Scottsdale, AZ | Report Abuse

TU for your in-depth review of the going on's on S.F.
Pietro | Long Beach, CA | Report Abuse

Good review. Santa Fe made our initial list for a retirement location because of the weather. However as soon as we saw the hard left politics, crime rates, and high median home prices, it immediately got the ax! More so we are not interested in contributing to the sanctuary city insanity. We have a hard enough time paying for ourselves let alone subsidizing a city & state that thinks it's ok for immigrants to cross the border illegally. Good luck Santa Fe I hope you choke on your own stupidity.
Bob | Canton, GA | Report Abuse

When people decide to grow up and actually note what is occurring around them, they will accept the fact that states, cities and towns with the worst living conditions are spawned by politics. And presently, democrats and liberal ideology are the benefactors of this decline. Be an adult an accept facts, then change your ways if they contribute to the liberal disease which is ravaging our country. Which places are safest, neighborhoods with a republican/conservative majority, or one with a democrat/liberal majority? Thinking caps on, liberals...thinking caps.
Donald | Sequim, WA | Report Abuse

Excellent review, Chris. New liberal transplants and illegal aliens are burdening locals and draining the coffers in most every once highly desirable town or city remaining. Liberal Californians destroyed their own towns, only to flee to well-run conservative states and areas which have traditionally been of average or low income, but bring with them wealth and the same destructive socialist ideologies they ran from. This brings huge influxes of new transplants and competition for space and housing, exponentially elevating housing costs which they can afford, but long time residents and their children cannot. My town is suffering the same fate. Liberals with big dollars began flooding in for the reasons I've stated, turning a once easy-paced, friendly, conservative, lawful population with affordable housing, to a democrat run town. Now we see the huge income to cost of living disparity transplants bring, crime is rampant, the law has been hobbled, and our taxes are used to feed the bureaucracy, protect criminal illegals and drug addicts instead of making the town a more enjoyable place to live. Californians...most are an unwanted and unpleasant nuisance.
Donald | Sequim, WA | Report Abuse

You've got your 'facts' wrong. First, the average income in Denver is higher than in Santa Fe. Fact check. Comparing Santa Fe costs to California is laughable and comparing it to New York is preposterous. There is NO comparison when you ratio income to housing and account for overall cost of living. Clearly, you've never lived in these areas because Santa Fe is FAR cheaper. Second, Santa Fe isn't rated among the top 5 rudest cities in the US, it's one of the friendliest per the 2018 Conde Nast Reader's poll. I've found it extremely friendly, like small-town America. Third, tourism is thriving. In fact, Forbes Magazine rated it as a 2019 Top 14 Tourist Destination in the U.S. Additionally, Conde Nast ranked Santa Fe #2 in the 2018 15 Top Cities in the U.S.: Reader's Choice Awards. Fourth, where do you get your information that SF is a 'failed little town with a looming deficit?' This sounds like sour grapes. Get your facts straight Trump, err, Fool. I'm happy you don't live here.
Brian | Berkeley, CA | Report Abuse

Ghetto place unless you are rich enough to live in the mountains. Homeless beggars on every corner. Crime is high. Pretentious people wearing masks outdoors skoff if you aren't muzzled up too. Nevermind a medical exemption from my doctor. Some kind people mixed up in this town, but overall the vibe is yucky and I'm headed out after just a few months.
World | Crestone, CO | Report Abuse
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